Everything you need to know about Ninjas in Pyjamas: Europe Closed Qualifier profile

Click here for all links to all sixteen of the team profiles for the Europe Closed Qualifier for ESL One Rio.

Rank (HLTV/ESL): #12/#11

Invite or Qualifier: Invited

Lineup

• Fredrik "REZ" Sterner
• Jonas "Lekr0" Olofsson
• Nicolas "Plopski" Gonzalez Zamora
• Simon "twist" Eliasson
• Tim "nawwk" Jonasson
• Björn "THREAT" Pers (coach)

Five most recent results

• IEM Katowice 2020 = 9-12th (LAN)
• BLAST Premier Spring Series Week 1 = 3rd (LAN)
• BLAST Pro Series Global Final 2019 = 3rd (LAN)
• ECS Season 8 Finals = 5-6th (LAN)
• BLAST Pro Series Copenhagen 2019 = 2nd (LAN)

Brief rundown

Some top teams will play smaller tournaments just for the boost to morale but NiP exclusively face the highest level of competition. This has been a blessing and a curse for the team over the last three years.

NiP have not won a LAN tourney since IEM Oakland 2017 with an almost entirely different roster. The MVP from that event, REZ, is the only player that remains.

With Dignitas also in the Closed Qualifier, a possible grudge match between the legendary players and their former organisation is a possibility.

IEM Katowice 2020 saw NiP only take a victory over an inexperienced Cloud9 lineup between 2-0 stomps by Team Vitality and Natus Vincere. To start the year, NiP had a rough group for the BLAST Premier Spring Season with both FaZe Clan and Team Liquid dismantling them and a sole victory over MIBR as the only highlight.

Player to watch: Plopski

No longer the newest kid on the block for NiP, Plopski is the second 17-year-old Swedish talent looking to prove themselves in the Closed Qualifier after Fnatic’s Ludvig "Brollan" Brolin. The young prospect recently signed an extension to his contract, committing to the organisation for the next three years.

NiP have struggled for a long time and now have a fresh start. Plopski has only had three negative events out of his 11 LANs with NiP including his debut at ESL One Cologne 2019.

His previous performances alongside Nawwk were strong and this will be something the pair hope to replicate together now on Ninjas in Pyjamas.

GINX prediction

A steep rise in the level of performance will be needed for the Swedish side to pose a threat against a field of hungry and promising opposition. The young blood will be looking to show that NiP magic didn’t leave with f0rest and remains with them.

NiP once housed Major champions but with its legendary figures now gone, the climb back to the top will be harsh and the perils of an online qualifier make failure in the Closed Qualifier a genuine possibility.